How to Tell if Your Laptop Supports Wi-Fi 6: A Step-by-Step Guide with Testing on Windows, Linux, and macOS

You've bought a new laptop and want to get the most out of a modern router with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), but aren't sure if your device supports this standard? Or are you planning to upgrade your home network and want to check the compatibility of your old laptop? In this article, we'll cover all working methods Wi-Fi 6 support detection—from reviewing specifications in documentation to in-depth diagnostics via the command line and specialized utilities.

Wi-Fi 6 promises 40% faster speed in dense networks (for example, in apartment buildings), better energy efficiency for laptops and support for technologies like OFDMA And MU-MIMOBut to take advantage of these benefits, both the router and the client device (your laptop) must support the standard. 802.11ax. At the same time, many manufacturers (including Dell, HP, Lenovo And ASUS) this information is not always clearly indicated in the model name or on the box.

We tested all methods on laptops with Windows 10/11, macOS Ventura And Linux (Ubuntu 22.04), and also collected data on popular adapter models. At the end of the article— compatibility table Intel, Qualcomm, and Broadcom chipsets with Wi-Fi 6 so you can quickly get your bearings without in-depth diagnostics.

1. Checking through the Device Manager (Windows)

The fastest way for Windows users is to look in device ManagerIt will show the model of your wireless adapter, which can then be used to determine whether it supports Wi-Fi 6.

How to open Device Manager:

• 🖱️ Click Win + X and select "Device Manager" from the menu.
• 🔍 Expand the "Network adapters" branch.
• 📋 Find the device with the words Wireless, Wi-Fi or Network Adapter in the title.

Now, carefully examine the adapter's name. If it has one of these designations, your laptop supports Wi-Fi 6:

• 🔹 Intel Wi-Fi 6 (For example, AX200, AX201, AX210)
• 🔹 Qualcomm FastConnect 6xxx (For example, 6800, 6900)
• 🔹 Broadcom BCM43xx with a note 802.11ax
• 🔹 Killer AX1650 (used in gaming laptops MSI And Alienware)

Unsure of the model? Copy the full name of the adapter and enter it into a search engine along with the following words: Wi-Fi 6 supportSpecifications from the manufacturer's official website usually appear at the top of the list.

Search for drivers on the laptop manufacturer's website | Check for updates in Windows Update | Use utilities like HWiNFO for detailed diagnostics-->

2. Command line: detailed information about the adapter

If Device Manager doesn't give you a clear answer, use command lineThis method works even if the adapter drivers are not installed correctly.

Open Command Prompt (Win + R → enter cmd → Enter) and run the command:

netsh wlan show drivers

In the results, find the following lines:

• 📌 Radio type — must be specified 802.11ax (if only Wi-Fi 6) or 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (if all standards are supported).
• 📌 Supported radio types — we are also looking here ax.

For more detailed information, use the command:

wmic nic where "NetEnabled='true'" get Name, Manufacturer, Speed, MACAddress

It will show the adapter manufacturer, the current connection speed, and the MAC address. If the speed exceeds 866 Mbps (maximum for Wi-Fi 5), there is a high probability that the adapter supports Wi-Fi 6.

3. Checking via macOS (for Apple and Hackintosh laptops)

On MacBook and other devices with macOS You can determine Wi-Fi 6 support through System information:

1. 🍎 Click the Apple logo in the upper left corner → About This Mac.
2. 🔍 Click “System Report” → in the left menu, select “Network” → “Wi-Fi”.
3. 📋 In the right part of the window, find the line Map:If it says:

• 🔹 Apple Wi-Fi 6 — there is support (chipsets) Broadcom BCM4378 or newer).
• 🔹 AirPort or Wi-Fi 5 — only 802.11ac standard.

For Hackintosh (For unofficial macOS builds on PC), the check is similar, but the adapter name may differ. If the system report shows an unknown device, use the utility IORegistryExplorer or by team in Terminal:

networksetup -listallhardwareports

4. Analysis of laptop specifications (by model)

If you know the exact model of your laptop, check its specifications on the manufacturer's official website or in databases like NotebookCheckPlease pay attention to:

• 🔧 Section Wireless communication or Wireless.
• 🔧 Mention of standards 802.11ax, Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E.
• 🔧 Adapter model (e.g. Intel AX210).

Examples of laptops with Wi-Fi 6 support (as of 2026):

Didn't find your model in the table? Check the documentation or use the forum search (for example, Reddit or 4PDA), where users often share real tests.

5. Speed ​​test and connection analysis

If you already have a router with Wi-Fi 6, you can check for support for the standard. empirically — by connection speed and type. To do this:

1. 📡 Connect to a 5 GHz network (Wi-Fi 6 only works in this range).
2. 📊 Run a speed test on Speedtest.net or Fast.com.
3. 🔍 Check your current connection speed in Windows/macOS settings:

• 🖥️ Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → Manage known networks → Properties.
• 🍎 macOS: Hold Option (Alt) and click on the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar.

Please note:

• 📶 Protocol: If specified 802.11ax — there is support.
• 📈 Speed: When connected to a Wi-Fi 6 router, the speed should exceed 1 Gbps (For example, 1.2 Gbps or 2.4 Gbps).

If the speed does not exceed 866 Mbps (maximum for Wi-Fi 5), your adapter does not support 802.11ax, or the router is not configured to use Wi-Fi 6.

6. Testing on Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint)

In Linux, you can determine the model of your Wi-Fi adapter and its capabilities using terminal. Use the commands:

1. View adapter model:

lspci -knn | grep -iA3 net

Look for lines with Network controller and names like Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200.

2. Checking supported standards:

iw list | grep -i "supported.*ax"

If the command returns a line with 802.11ax, the adapter supports Wi-Fi 6.

3. Current connection:

iwconfig

Pay attention to the field Bit Rate. Values ​​​​above 866 Mb/s indirectly point to Wi-Fi 6.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

sudo apt install firmware-iwlwifi

7. Specialized diagnostic utilities

If standard methods do not produce results, use third-party programs:

For Windows:

• 🛠️ HWiNFO — shows detailed information about the adapter, including standards support.
• 🛠️ AIDA64 — in the “Network” → “PCI/PnP devices” section, look for the Wi-Fi module model.
• 🛠️ Wi-Fi Analyzer (from Microsoft Store) - analyzes networks and shows the protocols used.

For macOS:

• 🛠️ WiFi Explorer — displays detailed connection information, including the standard (802.11ax).
• 🛠️ CoconutBattery — in addition to the battery, it shows data about network interfaces.

For Linux:

• 🛠️ lshw - do it sudo lshw -C network for a detailed report.
• 🛠️ hardinfo — a graphical utility with a “Network Devices” section.

8. Visual inspection and marking on the body

Some manufacturers label their laptops or packaging as Wi-Fi 6-enabled. Look for:

• 🏷️ Logo stickers Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 (official sign of the Wi-Fi Alliance).
• 🏷️ Inscriptions Wi-Fi 6 Ready, 802.11ax or Gigabit Wi-Fi.
• 🏷️ Mention OFDMA or MU-MIMO in the technical specifications on the box.

Please note year of manufacture laptop:

• 📅 Before 2019: Wi-Fi 6 is extremely rare (only flagship models).
• 📅 2019–2020: The first adapters appear Intel AX200 And Killer AX1650.
• 📅 2021–2026: Wi-Fi 6 is becoming the standard for most mid-range and high-end laptops.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Wi-Fi 6 on laptops

Now you know all the ways to check for Wi-Fi 6 support on your laptop—from simply viewing specifications to in-depth diagnostics via the command line. If your device doesn't support the standard, consider upgrading the adapter or purchasing an external USB module (e.g., ASUS USB-AX56).

Remember: even if your laptop is Wi-Fi 6 compatible, for maximum speed your router must also support this standard and be configured correctly (5 GHz channel, 80 or 160 MHz width, WPA3).